Singkawang

Welcome to Singkawang

Singkawang, located along the coast of West Kalimantan, is a culturally unique city where Chinese, Dayak, and Malay communities have lived together in harmony for centuries. Often called the "City of a Thousand Temples," the town’s streets are lined with beautiful Chinese temples, traditional houses, and vibrant markets, creating an atmosphere rich in cultural integration.

The Trance Rituals of the Tatung

During the annual Cap Go Meh festival, the city comes alive with the dramatic Tatung parade. Local spiritual mediums enter deep trances, piercing their cheeks and bodies with sharp steel spears and swords while being carried on platforms of sharp blades. This ancient ritual is performed to cleanse the town of negative spirits and bring good fortune to all communities.

Cap Go Meh & The Lantern Parade

The Singkawang Cap Go Meh Festival is globally recognized as one of the largest and most spectacular Lunar New Year celebrations in Southeast Asia. For two weeks, the city is bathed in the warm red glow of thousands of hanging lanterns. The festivities culminate in massive street parades featuring towering dragon dances, traditional Dayak drum ensembles, and the jaw-dropping procession of over five hundred Tatung performers, creating a magical cultural spectacle.

Ceramic Heritage & Traditional Dragon Kilns

Singkawang is also home to the last operational "Dragon Kilns" in the region. These massive, long brick ovens built on hillsides have been firing traditional Chinese ceramics and glazed pottery using ancient wood-burning methods for over a hundred years. Visitors can watch skilled potters shape clay and witness the fiery process of these historic kilns.